Systems and methods for providing food intervention and tenderization

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectade into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectade towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A needleless spray nozzle head that is configured to spray and inject injectade into a food product without requiring the needleless spray nozzle head to contact the food product,
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises an elongated member having a plurality of fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the elongated member, the second end being disposed opposite to the first end, 
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises a first manifold portion, 
 wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels has at least one needleless nozzle, 
 wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels is in fluid communication with the at least one needleless nozzle and the first manifold portion, 
 wherein the first manifold portion forms a cap at the first end of the elongated member and is configured to receive a first flow of the injectade at the first end of the elongated member, to help divide the first flow of the injectade, and to direct a portion of the first flow of the injectade from the first end of the elongated member into each of the plurality of channels, and 
 wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of fluid channels runs substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one needleless nozzle. 
 
     
     
       2. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , further comprising a second manifold portion, and wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels is in fluid communication with the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion, and wherein the second manifold portion is configured to receive a second inflow of the injectade and to direct a portion of the second inflow of the injectade to each of the plurality of fluid channels. 
     
     
       3. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 2 , wherein the first manifold portion is configured to direct the portion of the first inflow of the injectade towards a second end of the elongated member, and wherein the second manifold portion is configured to direct the portion of the second inflow of the injectade towards a first end of the elongated member. 
     
     
       4. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated member, the first manifold portion, and the second manifold portion comprise three discrete components that are coupled together to form the needleless spray nozzle head. 
     
     
       5. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 2 , wherein the first manifold portion is configured to direct the portion of the first inflow of the injectade towards a second end of the elongated member, and wherein the second manifold portion is configured to direct the portion of the second inflow of the injectade towards the first end of the elongated member. 
     
     
       6. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels is fixed in location within the elongated member of the needleless spray nozzle head. 
     
     
       7. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the plurality of fluid channels runs parallel to a length of another one of the plurality of fluid channels. 
     
     
       8. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein the needleless spray nozzle head is part of a system that comprises a sensor that is configured to determine a distance between a portion of the food product and the needleless spray nozzle head, and wherein the system is configured to automatically change the distance between the portion of the food product and the needleless spray nozzle head based on feedback from the sensor. 
     
     
       9. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member comprises a solid bar defining the plurality of fluid channels. 
     
     
       10. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein the second manifold portion caps and is selectively coupled to a second end of the elongated member, and wherein the second manifold portion is configured to receive a second flow of the injectade and to divide the second flow of the injectade into each of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
       11. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 1 , wherein the first manifold portion is disposed at a first end of the elongated member, and wherein a riser is disposed at a second end of the elongated member, the riser being configured to vent air from the needleless spray nozzle head. 
     
     
       12. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 11 , further comprising a duct that is in fluid communication with the riser, and wherein the duct extends from the riser and extends back to the first end of the elongated member. 
     
     
       13. A needleless spray nozzle head that is configured to inject injectade into a food product without having the needleless spray nozzle head contact the food product;
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises an elongated member that defines multiple internal fluid channels, 
 wherein the internal fluid channels extend from a first end portion to a second end portion of the needleless spray nozzle head, 
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises a first manifold portion at the first end portion and a second manifold portion at the second end portion of the needleless spray nozzle head, 
 wherein the first manifold portion is configured to direct a first amount of the injectade towards the second end portion, 
 wherein the second manifold portion is configured to direct a second amount of the injectade towards the first end portion, and 
 wherein each of the internal fluid channels is in fluid communication with the first manifold portion, the second manifold portion, and multiple needleless nozzles. 
 
     
     
       14. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 13 , wherein the needleless spray nozzle head is coupled to a system that comprises a sensor that is configured to determine a distance between a portion of the food product and the needleless spray nozzle head, and wherein the system is configured to automatically change the distance between the portion of the food product and the needleless spray nozzle head and to automatically control flow of the injectade through the needleless spray nozzle head based on feedback from the sensor. 
     
     
       15. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated member defines at least three internal fluid channels, and wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the at least three internal fluid channels extend along a common plane. 
     
     
       16. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 13 , wherein each of the internal fluid channels is fixed in location within the elongated member. 
     
     
       17. A needleless spray nozzle head that is configured to receive injectade from a pump and to expel the injectade at a pressure that pierces into a food product and injects the injectade into the food product without requiring the needleless spray nozzle head to contact the food product,
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the elongated needleless spray bar, 
 wherein the needleless spray nozzle head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the elongated needleless spray bar, 
 wherein the first manifold portion is configured to direct a first portion of the injectade towards the second end of the elongated needleless spray bar, 
 wherein the second manifold portion is configured to direct a second portion of the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar, 
 wherein a location of each of the internal fluid channels is fixed within the elongated needleless spray bar, and 
 wherein each of the internal fluid channels is in fluid communication with the first manifold portion, the second manifold portion, and a plurality of needleless nozzles. 
 
     
     
       18. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated needleless spray bar defines at least three internal fluid channels. 
     
     
       19. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 18 , wherein a length of each of the at least three internal fluid channels each run parallel with another length of at least one of the at least three internal fluid channels. 
     
     
       20. The needleless spray nozzle head of  claim 18 , wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the at least three internal fluid channels extend along a common plane.